Myrrha (Met. 10.298-502)

Myrrha falls in love with her father Cinyras and gains access to his bed through trickery. Cinyras discovers the truth and exiles his daughter, who after much wandering becomes a myrrh tree.

Model play.

None that we know of.

Areas to explore.

Given that there is no dramatic model, how does Ovid infuse this episode with drama? In particular, how does Myrrha's passion reflect the experience of Phaedra?

Bibliography.

• D. H. J. Larmour, "Tragic Contaminatio in Ovid's Metamorphoses."
• M. Lowrie, "Myrrha's Second Taboo."
• B. R. Nagle, "Byblis and Myrrha: Two Incest Narratives in the Metamorphoses."
• B. Otis, Ovid as an Epic Poet.